Begonia plant named ‘YASPWHIT’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of hybrid  Begonia  named ‘YASPWHIT’, characterized by its large flowers that are white and flushed with pink in color with a high degree of forward and horizontal facing flowers and its compact well-branched habit without cane production in its first year of growth.

Botanical classification: Begonia hybrid.

Cultivar designation: ‘YASPWHIT’.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to U.S. Plant Patent applications filed for cultivars derived from the same breeding program entitled Begonia Plant Named ‘YASPRINK’ (U.S. Plant Ser. No. 13/066,385), Begonia Plant Named ‘YADEV’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,852), Begonia Plant Named ‘YAMINA’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,462), Begonia Plant Named ‘YAMOUR’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,788), and Begonia Plant Named ‘YASPED’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,412) and related to a cultivar from the same breeding program with a U.S. Patent, Begonia Plant Named ‘YABOS’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,093).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant, botanically an interspecific hybrid that includes Begonia boliviensis hybrids in its parentage. The new cultivar is known as Begonia ‘YASPWHIT’ and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘YASPWHIT’.

The new cultivar was derived from a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor at his nursery in Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom. The overall purpose of the breeding program is to make selections of Begonia plants to produce good basket and patio plants. ‘YASPWHIT’ was selected in the Inventor's greenhouse in 2008 as a single unique plant from amongst the seedlings derived from a cross made In 2007 between an unnamed plant of hybrid origin from the Inventor's breeding program as the female parent and Begonia boliviensis ‘YASPED’ as the male parent.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem tip cuttings in Congleton, Cheshire, United Kingdom in 2008 by the Inventor. It has been determined that the characteristics of this cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new cultivar, which in combination distinguish ‘YASPWHIT’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Begonia.

-   -   1. ‘YASPWHIT’ exhibits large flowers that are white and flushed         with pink in color.     -   2. ‘YASPWHIT’ exhibits flowers that have a high degree of         forward and horizontal facing flowers.     -   3. ‘YASPWHIT’ exhibits a compact and well-branched habit without         cane production in its first year of growth.

‘YASPWHIT’ is particular unique in having the flower form of Begonia boliviensis combined with a habit that lacks cane production in its first year of growth and in having a more compact habit than is typical of plants of Begonia boliviensis. The female parent is similar to ‘YASPWHIT’ in having white flowers but differs from ‘YASPWHIT’ in having white flowers with little or no pink flush, a lower degree of forward and horizontal facing flowers and in having a less compact habit with less branching. The male parent, ‘YASPED’ differs from ‘YASPWHIT’ in having red flowers. ‘YASPWHIT’ can be most closely compared to cultivars from the same breeding program; ‘YADEV’, ‘YABOS’, and ‘YAMINA’, which differ from ‘YASPWHIT’ in having flowers that are red in color, ‘YABON’, which differs from ‘YASPWHIT’ in having semi-double flowers that are yellow in color and ‘YASPRINK’, which differs from ‘YASPWHIT’ in having pink flowers. ‘YAMINA’ also differs from ‘YASPWHIT’ in having much larger flowers, larger leaves, and a groundcover type plant habit and ‘YADEV’ also differs from ‘YASWHIT’ in having leaves that are dark olive green in color. ‘YASPWHIT’ can also be compared to ‘Bonfire’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108), which differs from ‘YASPWHIT’ in often having un-branched canes in its first year of growth, in having flowers that are orange-red in color, smaller in size, and on drooping stems and in having a plant habit that has fewer basal or secondary branches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Begonia. The photographs were taken of a plant approximately three months in age as grown in a 15-cm container under greenhouse conditions under ambient light in Liss, Hampshire, United Kingdom.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of ‘YASPWHIT’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the female flowers of ‘YASPWHIT’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up view of the male flowers of ‘YASPWHIT’.

The photograph in FIG. 4 provides a close-up view of the leaves of ‘YASPWHIT’.

The colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the colors of the new Begonia.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of plants of the new cultivar approximately three months in age as grown in 15-cm containers under greenhouse conditions with ambient light in Liss, Hampshire, United Kingdom. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General plant characteristics:     -   -   Plant type.—Deciduous tuberous perennial, grown primarily             for use in baskets and containers.         -   Plant habit.—Spreading becoming cascading.         -   Flowering period.—From April to November.         -   Height and spread.—Reaches about 20 cm in height and about             35 cm in spread.         -   Cold hardiness.—U.S.D.A. Zone 10.         -   Diseases and pests.—No particular pests or diseases.         -   Root description.—Fleshy to fibrous.         -   Tubers.—Were not observed to be formed under typical             production (April to November) for the new cultivar, this is             atypical as tuber formation is typical in the first year of             growth for Begonia boliviensis hybrids.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Propagation.—Stem tip cuttings. -   Stem description:     -   -   Stem size.—Average of 12 cm in length and 4 mm in diameter             with lateral branches about 3 mm in width.         -   Stem shape.—Round, solid.         -   Stem color.—Slightly paler than 152D.         -   Stem surface.—Pubescent with translucent simple hairs,             lenticels absent.         -   Internode length.—Average of 2.7 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Branching from non-flowering nodes.         -   Branching angle at emergence.—About 45°. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Strongly asymmetric, one side narrow ovate, the             other side cordate and wider.         -   Leaf division.—Entire.         -   Leaf base.—Cordate.         -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate.         -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, color; 139C on upper surface and             139D on lower surface.         -   Leaf margins.—Irregularly serrate, tips of teeth drawn out             into short bristles.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface; few short translucent hairs,             lower surface; pubescent with short simple translucent             hairs.         -   Leaf color.—Upper surface N137B, lower surface ranges from             185A to 185B.         -   Leaf size.—Average of 9.5 cm in length and between 4.5 and 5             cm in width.         -   Leaf fragrance.—Absent.         -   Petioles.—Between 2.2 and 3.2 cm in length, an average of             2.5 mm in width, surface is pubescent with simple             translucent hairs, color; 199D with a red tinge on the             exposed side.         -   Stipules.—Broad triangular in shape, translucent becoming             tinged with 145C with a faintly red tip in color and rapidly             becoming dry and papery, about 3 mm in length and 4 mm in             width. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—2 to 3 flowered cyme produced in the             axils of the upper leaves, terminal male flower opening             before the 1 or 2 lateral female flowers.         -   Peduncles.—About 6.5 to 7.5 cm in length and 2 mm in width,             color; 152D and tinged with 173C and 173D where exposed,             glabrous surface.         -   Flower persistence.—Self-cleaning.         -   Flower type.—Single.         -   Flower fragrance.—None.         -   Flower number.—Average of 10 flowers per stem are open at             one time on mature plants.         -   Flower aspect.—Mostly horizontally to outward.         -   Bracts.—2, rounded to reniform in shape, shape of tip             obtuse, about 9 mm in length and 10 mm width, color is 144D,             bristly hairs at margins. -   Male flowers:     -   -   Pedicels.—About 2.1 cm in length and 2 mm in width, color on             exposed side 34A, color on shaded side 34C to 34D, glabrous             surface.         -   Flower buds.—Flattened round in shape, about 3.1 cm in             length and 2.1 cm in width, color; 157D and NN155 slightly             flushed 49A just before flower opens.         -   Flower size.—About 4.6 cm in length and 4.1 cm in width.         -   Tepals.—4 in number (2 inner and 2 outer), outer tepals;             broad ovate in shape, obtuse apex, rounded base, average of             4.1 cm in length and 3 cm in width, glabrous and smooth             surface, entire margin, color; outer surface 155B shading to             5D at extreme base and outermost tepal flushed 39B             especially towards base, inner surface is 155B shading to 5D             at extreme base, inner tepals; ob-elliptic in shape, obtuse             apex, cuneate base, average of 4.4 cm in length and 1.9 cm             in width, glabrous and smooth surface, entire margin, color;             outer surface 155B shading to 5D at extreme base, inner             surface 155B shading to 5D at extreme base.         -   Stamens.—Numerous, connate below forming a tube, about 1.2             cm in length and 3 mm in width, 4C in color.         -   Filaments.—About 3.5 mm in length and 0.5 mm in width, 4C in             color.         -   Anthers.—Broadly elliptic in shape, about 1 mm in length and             1 mm in width, 12B in color.         -   Pollen.—Abundant in quantity, 10D in color. -   Female flowers:     -   -   Pedicels.—About 2.5 cm in length and 2 mm in width, color on             exposed side 34A, color on shaded side 34C and 34D, glabrous             surface.         -   Flower buds.—Flattened ovoid in shape, about 2.4 cm in             length and 2 cm in width, color; 157D and NN155A slightly             flushed 49A just before flower opens.         -   Flower size.—About 3.4 cm in length and 5.5 cm in width.         -   Tepals.—5 in number (3 inner and 2 outer), outer tepals;             broad ovate in shape, acute apex, rounded base, average of             3.3 cm in length and 2.4 cm in width, glabrous smooth             surface, entire margin, color; outer surface 155B shading to             5D at extreme base and outermost tepal flushed 39B             especially towards base, inner surface is 155B shading to 5D             at extreme base, inner tepals; ob-elliptic in shape, acute             apex, cuneate base, an average of 3.1 and 3.5 cm in length             and 17 mm in width, glabrous and smooth surface, entire             margin, color; outer surface 155B shading to 5D at extreme             base, inner surface 155B shading to 5D at extreme base.         -   Styles.—3 in number, cylindrical, connate at base 1 mm,             about 3 mm in length and 1 mm in width, 8B in color.         -   Stigmas.—Bifid in shape, stigmatic surfaces twisted around             extensions of the style, lobes about 5 mm in length and 1 mm             in width, 12B in color.         -   Ovaries.—Inferior, triangular in cross section with angles             unequally but narrowly winged, about 8 mm in length and 7 mm             in width (excluding wings), color is 145B.         -   Seed.—Very numerous, ovoid in shape, N172C in color,             extremely small in size. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Begonia plant named ‘YASPWHIT’ as herein illustrated and described. 